The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has made a significant decision to relocate its planned 'Second Innings Homes' project for senior citizens. Originally slated for a plot in Gomtinagar's Virajkhand, the project has been scrapped at that location due to unforeseen safety hazards.
Safety Concerns Force Project Relocation
The pivotal decision was taken during a recent meeting of the LDA board. Authorities discovered that high-tension power lines were passing directly over the identified 2,500 square metre plot. This location, approved for the project back in 2023, is also situated near a water body. According to strict safety regulations, the construction of multi-storey residential buildings beneath such high-voltage transmission lines is strictly prohibited.
Consequently, the LDA has decided to abandon the project at the Virajkhand site. The board has approved a proposal to sell the plot in the open market instead. This move underscores the authority's commitment to adhering to safety norms above all else.
'Second Innings Homes' Project Remains a Priority
Officials were quick to clarify that the housing scheme for senior citizens itself has not been shelved. A senior LDA official stated, "The Second Innings Homes project is not being dropped. It is only being shifted from Virajkhand due to technical constraints."
The authority is now actively exploring alternative, safer locations to execute this important social initiative. Potential new sites under consideration include areas in Basant Kunj or under the CG City housing scheme. The search is on for a plot where the project can be built without any safety compromises.
Original Vision for Senior Living
The original plan for 'Second Innings Homes' was quite comprehensive, designed specifically for the comfort and safety of elderly residents. The blueprint included:
- A seven-storey building with 56 units in total (eight studio apartments on each floor).
- Each flat was designed to be approximately 400 square feet in area.
- Special features for greater convenience, such as larger balconies, spacious dressing areas, and elderly-friendly bathrooms.
- A host of community facilities including a clubhouse, gym, yoga and meditation centre, and a physiotherapy unit.
- Provisions for a community kitchen and a permanent ambulance facility to handle medical emergencies.
The flats were to be allotted exclusively to people aged 60 years and above on a leasehold basis, not freehold, ensuring the property remained dedicated to senior living.
This development highlights the challenges urban authorities face in finding suitable land for specialised housing projects within city limits. While the relocation causes a delay, it reaffirms the LDA's intent to provide a secure and modern living environment for Lucknow's senior population, once a technically viable site is finalized.
